Ilyn Payne

Ser Ilyn Payne is the King's Justice, or royal executioner. He can no longer speak because his tongue was removed.

Before Robert Baratheon was king, Ilyn Payne served as Lord Tywin Lannister's captain of household guards when Tywin served the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen as the King's Hand. After being heard to joke that it was Tywin Lannister who truly ruled the Seven Kingdoms, King Aerys ordered Payne's tongue be removed with hot pincers.

It was Ilyn Payne who beheaded Eddard Stark at the command of King Joffrey. To add insult to injury, Payne used Ned's house sword: Ice. Also by King Joffrey's command, he cut out the singer Marillion's tongue for composing a bawdy song about the late Robert Baratheon. Spoiler - Click to see/hide